Expanded Early Voting for Presidential Election Begins Today

Date:

October 24, 2016

Press Release

Elections

Shatters previous Early Voting opening day record by 1pm

Expanded Early Voting for the November 8 Presidential Election began this morning with an announcement by Cook County Clerk David Orr and officials from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

Orr and Marisel Hernandez, Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chairwoman, spoke of the growth and importance of Early Voting and detailed how voters can cast their ballot before Election Day.

“Now that voters know there are 52 suburban Early Voting sites, open seven days a week, they cannot be complacent or wait too long to vote,” Orr said. “You never know when life makes other plans, so it’s best to vote as soon as you have the chance. Don’t wait!”

The 52 Early Voting sites throughout suburban Cook County are an increase over the 43 sites the Clerk’s office operated for the Presidential Primary.

By 2:45 p.m. today, 19,281 ballots had been cast today - shattering the previous opening day of Early Voting record. The previous Early Voting opening day record, which was set in October 2012, was 13,779 ballots cast.

“All forms of Early Voting continue to grow in popularity,” Orr said. “We anticipate more than 100,000 people will vote by mail this year.”

Orr led the fight for early voting in Illinois, resulting in its passage in the state legislature in 2005. Prior to 2006, when early voting went into effect in Illinois, voters had to provide an excuse – such as they were ill, or traveling, or physically unable to get to the polling place – in order to vote before Election Day.

Suburban Cook County voters can vote early at any one of the 52 early voting sites throughout suburban Cook County, in addition to the Clerk’s main office at 69 W. Washington St., Chicago.

Cook County residents who missed the voter registration deadline for this election can still register at any of the early voting sites. During this grace period, voters not yet registered must provide two forms of identification to register and must vote in person at the time that they register.